NFL Player: TSA Spilled My Mom's Ashes

Newser — Evann Gastaldo

New York Giants player AJ Francis says a TSA employee spilled his mother's ashes while performing a bag check on his checked luggage, ESPN reports. The defensive lineman called out the agency on Twitter Monday, posting a picture of ash-covered clothing along with a profanity-laced tweet that read in part, "next time you ... feel the need to go thru my mother’s ashes for no reason, make sure you close it back so her remains aren’t spilled on all my clothes." The TSA replied from its @AskTSA account, apologizing and noting, "Our officers are trained to handle your carry-on and checked property with care. Out of respect for the deceased, under no circumstances should the container be opened." Francis wasn't satisfied, continuing the unhappy tweets, though he noted he didn't want anyone fired—he just wants "TSA to be cognizant [of its] own internal idiocy."

"I dont even care that they checked it... they were just being cautious, & I can understand that," he posted at one point.

"But to not ensure that it won’t spill back into my bag after you put it back in is ... asinine & irresponsible." Twitter users expressed support and sympathy, with some sharing their own similar stories, though others wondered why he had checked the ashes rather than carrying them onto the plane.

"To carry ashes on the plane you have to have a death certificate which is still being mailed to me... so do me a favor and shut ... up about things you don’t know," he replied to one such person, while also noting that the container of ashes was larger than 4oz.

Finally, he said to another person asking, "I’m 6’5 330 and people know who I am and talk to me every single time I go to the airport and I didn’t want to talk to dozens of strangers about my mother’s death last week... is that good enough for you?"